Seeking Stab positions for Oblts Werner Ursinus & Wilfried Pufahl with II./JG53 duriing the spring of 1940
 

Hello,

For profiling purposes, I'm trying to identify the positions for Oblts. Werner Ursinus and Wilfried Pufahl, who served with the Gruppenstab of II./JG53 during the spring of 1940, including the Western Campaign of May-June 1940. Pufahl flew a Bf109E marked with <3+-. I know that he wasn't the T.O., as that was Oblt. Otto Bohner. One of them, possibly Ursinus, was probably the Gr Adjutant, but which one? What was the position of the other one?

Who can help?

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

Re: Seeking Stab positions for Oblts Werner Ursinus & Wilfried Pufahl with II./JG53 duriing the spring of 1940
 

Hello,

Just a post update here.

I've now learned that Oblt Werner Ursinus, was the Gr Adj. of II./JG53 from circa 08.39 until he took over as Sta Kap of 3./JG53 on 27.10.40. He probably flew <1+, but this isn't proven by any photos that I have.

His place was Gr Adj. was taken by Oblt. Gerhard Michalski until the end of 1940 and later. Before he replaced Ursinus, Michalski held an unknown position on the II. Gruppenstab going back at least to March, 1940. Would appreciate any further details on that.

So that pretty well covers the Adjutant's position for 1939-40.

Oblt Otto Böhner was with 9./JG53 at the beginning of the war, but sometime before the end of 1939 he apparently became the II Gr. T.O., was briefly out when he was temporarily captured during the WC after being shot down on 09.06.40, and probably resumed that job until he became Sta Kap of 6./JG53 on 08.10.40. His replacement is unknown to me. He probably flew <4+, but this is just speculation and isn't proven by any photos that I know of.

Oblt Wilfried Pufahl was the Gesch Adj for JG53 early in 1940, but by May, 1940, he had been transferred for an unknown reason to an unknown position on the Gruppenstab of II./JG53. He flew <3+ before he eventually returned as Adj of JG53.

I would appreciate any further info on these men, or their aircraft during 1939-40, or any others who served on the Gruppenstab of II./JG53 during this period.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator